The Republican journal., 1887-07-21
The Saloon

\ RELIGIOUS WEEkfN SUMMARIZES SOME OF
IIIE ARGUMENTS IN ITS FAVOR.
The FIGHT against the saloon is a conflict of
on, set Of ideas with another set of ideas, in
which Right is on one side and Wrong OIL the
other This must necessarily he so, for the two
sets of ideas are in positive antagoni>m, and
right is Enthusiastically involved. 1t follows.
therefore, tHat the proper weapons of the con-
llict, and the only proper weapons, are such n
belong To discussion. full and free discussion.
Prohibition can win only by so propagating its
ideas IL to secure intelligent and conscientious
conviction. The saloon can only establish its
claim Of right to IN uninterrupted pursuit of
its business hy Il similar appeal to the intellect
and conscience.
OF cours" in such conflict prejudice may
prev rnt fair consideration of an opponents
arguments. There is undcniably Il strong pref
udrc in this country against the saloon busi-
ness. 1t is not considered respectable. Those
who engage i'll it are lroWncd upon in good so-
ciety; they are, for the most part. excluded
from the churches; they are regarded rs dis
qualified for positions of public trust and re-
>pon>Ibillty. and they are charged with con-
ducting schools of vice. crime and misery.
Tins feeling l. quite general, and to call Il man
rum,clIcr Is equivalent in the general cstima-
ton to the Application of an opprobrious cpl
thct. May it not be, i'll the face of this general
prejudice against saloon keepers. even among
those who Use intOXicants more or less, that the
argument they have to offer in self defense have
not received due consideration: As campaigns
on the question at issue are in progress in sever
al of the states it will be Opportune TO inquire
what is the nature Of the arguments offered in
defense Of the saloon business.
|. In Iowa Il minister bN the name of Had
dock. who was active III securing the enforce
ncnt of law against the saloons, and became
an embodied argument against Salooni>n, was
met and overcome by assassination in the
night. This is argument No. l, or the argu-
ment of assassination.
>. In Jackson, Miss. there WAS an editor of
temperance paper, IL young man named Gam
hrciI, who led the fight for local option in
llind'S county against Col. j. ID. Hamilton
State Senator and champion of the liquor in
tcre>t> The ''ambrcll argument proved to be
Il very strong one, and it was met just the
llai'tick argument had been met, hy assassin.
alton. IIj> l. also argument Mol
5. In IIaycrhil, o., there was a man nalneI
Northup, who, like lIaldock sought to COM
pei the soloons to observe the law. The North
up argument WAS answered by a>>;l>>inaton
This is argument No. again applied.
4. In Brighton, \. j., Frank c. Smith.
lawyer, who was active in prosecuting illegal
saloon practices was waya in the night and
>iIcnred, it was supposed, for all time. This is
argument No. repeated
>. Tennessee >alooni>t> in Sprinyicl,ltttcml
ed 10 answer the prohibition speech of Rev 4.
j. punran by dynamite. This i, argument of
mHr,lcrou> assault.
6. san Antonio Tex. is the seat of several
large brewerics and of perhaps 800 saloons.
Respectable men undertook to present in re-
>pcctful way arguments for prohibition, at Il
meeting in Il public square, the public halls hay
ing been refused for the purpose. The saloon-
f1n,.
spot with rotten eggs and other missiles. \
young brewer. Gus Kaufman, assaulted one of
the speakers with Il brutal physical argument.
The speakers We're not allowed to be heard
This is argument No.3,or the argument of sup
preston of speech. The speakers We're not al
lowed to he heard.
!. In AmeSbury Mass, the saoonsts re-
scnting the attempt of the police to enforce the
law against them, organized Il mob. took con-
troll OF the streets. and smashed the windows
of Il clergyman. This is argument No. 4, or the
argument of violence.
$. Wichita is town of Kansas in which liQ-
nor used to flow freely. When news reached
the >alooniSts of that place that prohibtory
law had been passed they published the follow
ing card:
To ALL PROIIIBIT!ONISTS.
The saloon keepers of Wichita have $500 ON
deposit in this Office
FOR THE BENEFIT
OF TIE WIDOW
of the
son of a Gun who makes
TIE FIRST COMPLAINT
against
TIE LIQUOR DEALERS OF THIS TOWN.
This is argument No. ., or the argument of in
timidation.
O. In Texas men more or less prominent
have met the argument for prohibition thus
1--WE will fill the Brazos River with dead
prohibtioni>tS. tS.'-.Iud@e Gerald.
1--WE will damn them" The Hon. John Ham
cock.
''The Prohibitonists so to Kansas for their
pattern, to Plymouth Rock for their religion,
to John Brown for their morals. and will go
to He'll for their mcanness, unless they quit
it.'-.Judgc GuStavc Cook.
II wish to God could ALLEVIATE these Prohi-
bitioni>ts. Col II. q. Mills.
"Why can't people attend to their own busi-
ness and let other peoples business aone."-
Gov. John Ireland.
These specimens might be divided between
arguments Nos. 3. 4 and ).
But saoonsts have an argument that sounds
much better to law-abdin. ears than any of the
foregoing. 1t is this: Prohibition is an inva-
sion of personal liberty and constitutional
right. But the Interpretation they give per-
sonal liberty is this: Liberty for the saloon,
but not for anybody to speak or work against
it. l'rhc lndepenuent.